Foam dispensing head for aerosols



July 3. 1956 R. H. ABPLANALP FOAM DISPENSING HEAD FOR AEROSOLS FiledJan. 29, 1954 p U MM M M Mm V H mm m 32H. A A; P

FOAM DISPENSING HEAD FOR AEROSOLS Application January 29, 1954, SerialNo. 406,949

2 Claims. (Cl. 299-95) This invention is a foam dispensing head foraerosols and more particularly that type of aerosols which are adaptedto be dispensed in the form of foam.

The dispensing of foam forming aerosols has been heretofore practicedwith widely different constructions, but all of them have been of acomplicated nature.

The object of the present invention is to provide a structure of extremesimplicity, one which may be economically die molded from plastics orpolymers and which will function with high efiiciency in the carryingout of its intended purposes.

The invention, in its preferred form, is of unitary construction. ltembodies, generally speaking, a cap adapted to fit over the neck or cupof a conventional aerosol container. The cap comprises an elasticdiaphragm, the inner side of which has a discharge passage. One end ofsaid passage fits over and is adapted to receive the valve stem of thedispenser, while its other end forms a discharge nozzle from which thefoam is adapted to issue. The cap is fitted onto an aerosol containerwith the diaphragm in normally retracted condition to permit closing ofthe dispensing valve of said container. When it is desired to dispensethe aerosol, thumb pressure by an operator, applied against the centerof the diaphragm, will cause unseating of the dispensing valve and thedischarge of such aerosol in the form of foam. The structure isconstituted as to permit of stacking of the containers, withoutinadvertent release of the contents thereof. Moreover, its operation isso simple that it may be readily accomplished by the most uninitiatedpersons without recourse to directions. It is also cheap, effective andefiicient.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will beapparent from the hereinafter detailed description and appended claims,when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one practical embodiment of theinvention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood asillustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a top view of the head embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows the head on a container with the diaphragm of the head in aposition corresponding to the closed position of the dispensing valve.

Fig. 5 is a like view showing the diaphragm depressed to open the valveand dispense foam from the container.

The dispensing head of this invention shown in the drawing is in theform of a cap which, in practice, may be made from rubber or any othersuitable polymer hav ing similar characteristic although, by preference,I mold the same from some suitable synthetic plastic, such aspolyethylene, nylon or the like. These materials may be slightlystretched, are pliable to varying degrees depending upon the thicknessof the walls and are not detrimentally afiected by the aerosol compoundsdispensed nited States Patent 0 M 2,753,214 Patented July 3, 1956therethrough, nor do they contaminate such compounds. They are alsoreadily shaped by simple pressure molding practice.

The cap is of generally tubular form. It has a side wall 1, the lowerportion whereof is flared outwardly and is provided internally with anannular channel 2 which may be sprung over the bead of an aerosolcontainer or the cup with which some of such containers are provided.Figs. 4 and 5 indicate such a cup at c. The elasticity of the materialfrom which the cap is made readily adapts it to be thus attached to acontainer or cup and when the bead of the latter has been received intothe channel 2 at the bottom of the cap, the union between the two willbe permanent.

I have shown in Figs. 4- and 5 the type of cup shown in my Patent No.2,631,814, granted March 17, 1953. Such a cup carries the dispensingvalve with its tubular valve stem v projecting upwardly from the centralportion of the cup and a nipple t depending therefrom for attachment ofa conventional dip tube.

The top wall of the cap is spaced some little distance from the upperedge of the side wall 1 and constitutes a diaphragm 3 which extendsacross the upper portion of the cap. By so positioning the diaphragm,the side wall projects above the diaphragm to form a protective head 4so that, if aerosol containers equipped with this invention are stackedone upon another, the eight of the superimposed containers will not flexthe diaphragm. This diaphragm is preferably made somewhat thinner thanthe side wall 1, so as to have more inherent flexibility.

Molded integral with the inner side of the diaphragm 3 is a radial rib 5which radiates from a central hub 6 to and is extended beyond the sidewall 1 to form a spout 7 The extending portion of this spout isreinforced from underneath by gussets 8.

The hub ti and rib 5 are cored to provide a discharge passage 9. Theinner end of this passage is formed within the hub and provides acylindrical chamber 10 adapted to receive the upper end of the tubularvalve stem v and at the top of this chamber is an olfset forming ashoulder 11 adapted to bear against the upper end of the stem withoutsealing the passage through said valve stem.

When the cap is applied to a dispensing container as stated, the springconventionally associated with the valve, together with the pressure inthe container, will normally cause the diaphragm to be sprung slightlyupward, shown in Fig. 4 and the dispensing valve will occupy a closedposition. The parts are so shown in Fig. 4, although, if desired, thearrangement may be such that the diaphragm will be perfectly fiat atthis time. This diaphragm is, however, relatively thin and elastic, sothat the slight distortion shown in Fig. 4 will not atlect the closingof the dispensing valve.

The parts will remain in this condition indefinitely with the valvesealed, until such times as it is desired to dis pense part or all ofthe contents of the container. At such times the application of thumbpressure to the ex terior of the diaphragm will fiex the diaphragmdownwardly against the upper end of the valve stem, cause the dispensingvalve to be unseated and the aerosol composition will exit through thevalve stem and through the passage 9 to issue from the spout 7, asindicated in Fig. 5. That portion of the channel 9 within the spout 7 ispreferably made somewhat wider than the remainder of the channel tofacilitate the building up of foam in the spout as it issues therefrom.

It will be apparent from the foregoing detailed de' scription that thedispensing head of this invention embodies, essentially, a flexiblediaphragm 3 and that the side wall 1 constitutes a peripheral skirtabout the same. The purpose of the skirt is to secure the diaphragm toan aerosol container in such position that said diaphragm will overliethe end of the valve stem of such container, so that pressure on theexterior of the diaphragm will depress the valve stem, open the valve,and permit the discharge of the contents of the container through thehollow valve stem. As the aerosol material is thus discharged, it is ledto the exterior of the cup through the discharge passage which passesthrough one wall of the cap, specifically shown as the side Wall, andterminates exteriorly of the side wall in an enlarged spout. The bead 4provides an upstanding wall about the periphery of the diaphragm so thatthe stacking of containers, thus equipped, on one another will notinadvertently cause discharge of the contents of any underlyingcontainers.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in itspreferred practical form, but the invention is to be understood as fullycommensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a dispensing head for aerosol containers which have a dischargevalve with a movable tubular operating stem through which the contentsof the container are adapted to be dispensed, the combination of aflexible diaphragm to overlie the end of the valve stem to depress thelatter and open the discharge valve when pressure is applied to theexterior of the diaphragm to permit the flow of said contents outthrough the hollow valve stem, said diaphragm having an integralperipheral skirt for securing it to the container, and a dischargeoutlet comprising a Walled passage integral with the diaphragm andskirt, the inner end of which passage is adapted to closely embrace themovable tubular valve stem While the outer end extends through one ofthe Walls of the head whereby the contents of the container passdirectly from the interior of the tubular valve stem into and throughsaid discharge passage to the exterior of the head, both the diaphragmand skirt being of flexible and elastic plastic material with the skirtthicker and less flexible than the diaphragm.

2. In a dispensing head for aerosol containers which have a dischargevalve with a movable tubular operating stem through which the contentsof the container are adapted to be dispensed, the combination of aflexible diaphragm to overlie the end of the valve stem to depress thelatter and open the discharge valve when pressure is applied to theexterior of the diaphragm to permit the flow of said contents outthrough the hollow valve stem, said diaphragm having an integralperipheral skirt for securing it to the container, a central hub on thediaphragm having therein a socket adapted to closely embrace the outerend of the movable tubular valve stem to form an uninterruptedcontinuation of the passage through the tubular operating valve stem,and a radial rib on the diaphragm provided with an internal dischargepassage leading from the socket of the hub outwardly through the skirt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS741,965 Henrich Oct. 20, 1903 2,171,373 Rosenwald et al Aug. 29, 19392,543,850 Henricson Mar. 6, 1951 2,579,977 Sjolin Dec. 25, 19512,631,814 Abplanalp Mar. 17, 1952 2,646,192 Gronemeyer July 21, 19532,681,752 Jarrett et al June 22, 1954 2,697,635 Ivins et al Dec. 21,1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 512,643 Belgium July 31, 1952

